Retirement is something you try to prepare for as best you can, but with so much uncertainty in the market and your personal future in general, planning can be tricky. How do you know when it’s time? We’ll find out.

Purchasing a home is a life-changing event. Suddenly you’re responsible for a number of things you may not have been responsible for in the past. However, you’re also eligible for a number of tax deductions, too. Take a look at our list to make sure you’re taking advantage of all that you can!

Why is my little house such a heat miser? Is it because it’s actually a sauna? Is it because I have too much insulation? Turns out, the lack of proper ventilation in my attic is to blame. Come with me on a journey to learn more about why attic ventilation, although controversial, is important.

Bonds are rallying following this morning's employment reports. Both initial jobless claims and continuing claims came in higher than expected. The February House Price Index will be released this morning and is expected to show a decline of -0.3 percent month-over-month. The expected drop would bring the index to a 7 year low, indicating that home prices have fallen back to early 2004 levels.

Fake Quicken Loans Offers Advertised and Sent as Email or FAX We've become aware of fraudulent activity regarding newspaper advertisements and mailers being sent by companies posing as Quicken Loans. Please view this sample of a scam FAX. Please note: We’ll never ask for an upfront deposit to be sent through a Western Union wire transfer, and we don’t offer personal loans – only mortgages. If you’ve received an offer like this, please contact us at: (800) 863-4332. Click here to see sample of fraudulent document and classified ad. Other false ads are below. [divider]

Treasuries opened higher this morning on speculation that Greece will be unable to avoid a debt default. Later this morning, the National Association of Home Builders will be releasing their April housing market index which is expected to be unchanged. S&P just revised the U.S. long-term outlook from a stable rating to negative...mortgage-backed bonds initially sold off approximately a quarter point from this morning's open.

This week was Military Families Week! In observance of the hard work that our military and their families do, we wanted to share some helpful information about great places to live and work after the military. There was an article published this week on AOL’s Jobs section talking about 10 great cities for veterans. It looks at features such as the job market, accessibility to military support and services, cost of living, education, and local tax laws, among other things. Advantages of a VA Loan For military families who are thinking about purchasing a home, there are also great programs and tax benefits available. According to IRS website, members of the miliary have until April 30th to claim the Homebuyer Tax Credit, which is an $8,000 tax credit or 10% of the home purchase price – whichever is smaller. Repeat buyers are eligible for a $6,500 credit or 10% of the purchase price. In addition, VA Loans have other advantages such as no down payment options and a streamlined process. Here is the summarized list of the best cities for veterans. Please check out the full article on AOL Jobs. The Top 10 Cities for Veterans: Austin, Texas Fayetteville, North Carolina Jacksonville, North Carolina Waco, Texas Oklahoma City, Oklahoma College Station-Bryan, Texas Harrisburg- Carlisle, Pennsylvania San Angelo, Texas Madison, Wisconsin Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania You can read the full article here - http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/04/12/top-10-cities-to-find-a-job-after-the-military/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl11|sec1_lnk2|55881 Please leave us a message with your thoughts!

Treasuries and mortgage bonds are higher this morning after U.S. consumer prices, excluding food and fuel, increased less than predicted in March. This data points to contained inflation and increased speculation that the economy is still on shaky ground.

Buying or selling a home is a big financial decision, yet many people avoid putting effort into finding the right real estate agent. Choosing the right agent can save you time and stress whether you are trying to find an affordable house or would like to sell your home for the best price possible.